Wouldn't it be nice if you could master your mind and your emotions? Not only would it help with your running performance, but having mental toughness is something that can help in the rest of our lives too.

Mental training is not something we are born good at, and actually, our minds are not wired to be happy, but we can develop mental strategies that work for us. Having awareness of your mental state as a runner, can help you to talk yourself through struggles, and get through the tough moments.

I met Cindra in 2012, and she was one of those people you meet every so often who defines a changing point in your life. I never thought we would speak again, but here we are.

Cindra may love the field of psychology, but she loves being a runner more, which makes it really easy to relate to her, as she really understands how we think as runners.

We know the mental side of running is so important to racing well, if you want to make positive self talk a focus—this is the episode for you.

Today's Guest

Cindra Kamphoff

High performance coach and sports psychologist Cindra Kamphoff gives us advice on building mental toughness and getting out of your comfort zone.

What You Will Learn About

• How to stop getting in your own way
• Why mastering your mind and emotions will help with performance
• How your difficulties fuel you every day to achieve your goals
• What your MVP level is and how you can get there
• Why I can, I am, I will statements are so powerful
• Why repeating a mantra over and over again will help you in a moment of struggle.
• How to focus on what we can control, rather than what we can't

Inspirational Quotes

You never know the impact that you are making, and you might not even know it for years down the road.

Difficulties happen for you not to you.

One of the main goals of mental training is to increase your awareness of yourself, and what are your tendencies.

Our brain is not made for us to be happy, it doesn't operate like that, it doesn't operate in a way that helps us perform at our best, so we really have to master our brain and our emotions.

You need to know yourself to master yourself.

We all have automatic negative thinking, but you don’t have to believe everything that you think.

Changing your state and physiology will impact how you feel. 

If you are not embracing your discomfort, you are not really reaching your best and your potential.

You can let the weather provide you an excuse or you can change your perception of the weather, and see that you can still do it.

Resources Mentioned

• Cindra's Top 10 traits of Top Performers 
• Cindra's book, Beyond Grit will be available August 2017
• Amy Cuddy Ted Talk
• Amy Cuddy book Presence
• Cindra Kamphoff Website
• Cindra’s High Performance Podcast